imperceptible
adjective
im·per·cep·ti·ble ˌim-pər-ˈsep-tə-bəl 
: not perceptible by a sense or by the mind : extremely slight, gradual, or subtle
imperceptible differences
imperceptibly
ˌim-pər-ˈsep-tə-blē
adverb 
Synonyms
- impalpable
- inappreciable
- indistinguishable
- insensible
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
These changes will be imperceptible to most people. a slight difference in hue between the two glasses that's imperceptible unless they're placed side by side
Recent Examples on the Web And there are thousands of tiny figures and almost imperceptible levels of detail. 
CNN, 22 Aug. 2022 However, our experts found that the airflow created by this standing fan was almost imperceptible except when on its maximum speed, making all of its lower settings essentially useless. Samantha Jones, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Aug. 2022 The distinctions between an immigrant who came from Taiwan in the sixties or seventies and one who came from mainland China in the nineties were probably imperceptible to anyone outside the Chinese-speaking diaspora. Hua Hsu, The New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2022 The previous knockback distance was barely imperceptible, so this is a decent quality of life change. Kris Holt, Forbes, 5 May 2022 An imperceptible difference, faster than a heart breaks. oregonlive, 18 July 2022 Nebel acknowledge for most visitors who are only there for a few days, the impacts of climate change in the park are largely imperceptible. Rachel Ramirez, CNN, 2 July 2022 The Radeon Pro 500-series GPUs in the 2017 MacBook Pros are the same way, providing nigh-imperceptible improvements to the architecturally similar 400-series GPUs in the 2016 models. Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 1 July 2022 Or, after all, is not a big event but a shift in Selin’s mind that would be imperceptible, except that it has been rendered to us as seismic, something big happening in someone’s head. Sophie Haigney, The New Republic, 23 May 2022 See More
CNN, 22 Aug. 2022 However, our experts found that the airflow created by this standing fan was almost imperceptible except when on its maximum speed, making all of its lower settings essentially useless. Samantha Jones, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Aug. 2022 The distinctions between an immigrant who came from Taiwan in the sixties or seventies and one who came from mainland China in the nineties were probably imperceptible to anyone outside the Chinese-speaking diaspora. Hua Hsu, The New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2022 The previous knockback distance was barely imperceptible, so this is a decent quality of life change. Kris Holt, Forbes, 5 May 2022 An imperceptible difference, faster than a heart breaks. oregonlive, 18 July 2022 Nebel acknowledge for most visitors who are only there for a few days, the impacts of climate change in the park are largely imperceptible. Rachel Ramirez, CNN, 2 July 2022 The Radeon Pro 500-series GPUs in the 2017 MacBook Pros are the same way, providing nigh-imperceptible improvements to the architecturally similar 400-series GPUs in the 2016 models. Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 1 July 2022 Or, after all, is not a big event but a shift in Selin’s mind that would be imperceptible, except that it has been rendered to us as seismic, something big happening in someone’s head. Sophie Haigney, The New Republic, 23 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin imperceptibilis, from Latin in- + Late Latin perceptibilis perceptible
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
imperceptible
adjective
im·per·cep·ti·ble ˌim-pər-ˈsep-tə-bəl
: not noticeable by the senses or by the mind : very small or gradual
imperceptible changes
imperceptibly
adverb
as in fractionally
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- fractionally
- progressively
- slowly
- increasingly
- gradually
- crescively
- hierarchically
- gradationally
- inchmeal
- piecemeal
- little by little
- piece by piece
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- suddenly
- abruptly
- sharply
- steeply
- acutely
- hastily
- precipitously